How many weeks does the belly start to grow? The exact time when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy. When does the belly begin to grow during pregnancy? For what period?

Having learned about their situation, many expectant mothers are interested in the question of when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy. Let's take a closer look at such a parameter as the circumference of the abdomen and find out what affects its size when carrying a baby, and how the appearance of the abdomen changes over the weeks of pregnancy.

What determines the size of the belly during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the belly grows gradually and for each pregnant woman this happens slightly differently. There are a number of factors that determine the pace of this process. Among them:

Anatomical features of the mother's physique. It has been established that women who are thin and have narrow hips often do not have big belly, at normal weight future baby.
Diet and rate of weight gain. Weight gain during pregnancy is a physiological norm. However, the process itself can proceed at different speeds. In addition, an improvement in appetite in pregnant women is also reflected in the size of the abdominal circumference - the increasing fat layer makes it visually larger.
Location of the placenta. When the baby's place is attached to the back wall of the uterus, the abdomen expectant mother Not large sizes. It looks much larger if it is attached to the anterior uterine wall.
Amniotic fluid volume. Insufficient or excessive volume amniotic fluid affects the size of the abdomen.
Functional state of the abdominal muscles. In physically fit expectant mothers, the abdomen is smaller in size and looks toned, which is why it looks smaller in appearance.
Number of pregnancies. In primiparous women, the uterus is smaller, which is why the belly is small. This is due to the condition of the muscular apparatus of the reproductive organ.

At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?

Not a single gynecologist can definitely tell the expectant mother at what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow. These features of the gestation process are strictly individual. For some ladies, it remains small throughout the entire period. In this case, there is an average indicator. It is equal to the time when the belly is already noticeable to the mother herself and those around her. However, it begins to grow a little earlier. An active increase in abdominal circumference begins at the end of the first trimester - from 12-13 weeks. By this time, all organs and systems are formed, their body growth begins.

When does the belly start to grow during the first pregnancy?

During the first pregnancy, the enlargement of the abdomen occurs more slowly. This is due to the fact that the uterus and abdominal muscles have not experienced strong stress before and are in their physiological state. The muscle fibers of these organs are not stretched and have the correct tone. Over time, as the fetus grows, their lengthening is noted - the abdominal muscles are stretched under the pressure of the baby's body weight and amniotic fluid. The rate of growth of the abdomen directly depends on the values of these parameters - they determine when the abdomen begins to grow during pregnancy.

Answering the question of pregnant women regarding at what month of pregnancy the belly begins to grow, gynecologists point to the 4th month from conception. However, this does not mean that every expectant mother notices directly within the specified time frame this phenomenon. Everything is individual, and some women change in appearance even at the 3rd month of gestation. A small tummy is especially visible in thin women who are short in stature. Thick women with rounded shapes manage to “hide” their position from others longer.

When does the belly start to grow during the second pregnancy?

When talking about when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy with a second child, doctors note an earlier onset of this process. This is due to stretching of the uterine ligaments, which change their size after the first pregnancy. In addition, the muscles of the abdominal wall also relax - the stomach becomes saggy and loses its elasticity and flatness. Because of this, even a slight increase in its volume is outwardly noticeable. On average, changes in abdominal circumference associated with pregnancy are noticeable in multiparous women as early as 13-14 weeks.

When does the belly start to grow during multiple pregnancy?

Due to the increased growth of the uterus, during multiple pregnancies the abdomen enlarges somewhat earlier. So when the belly begins to grow during the current pregnancy, it is only 12 weeks of gestation. Directly given period gynecologists indicate when answering the question regarding when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy with twins. Even close people can notice the changes taking place. At the same time, the belly itself is growing at a rapid pace - by the 17th week, some pregnant women experience inconvenience when sleeping and resting.

Where does the belly start to grow during pregnancy?

Wanting to control the changes that occur in the body while carrying a baby, women often ask doctors where the belly begins to grow during pregnancy. Its increase occurs first slightly above the pubis. This is due to the growth of the uterus in the area of its fundus. This is where the first changes take place. This area can also be felt during palpation of the anterior abdominal wall, which is carried out for the first time when a pregnant woman is registered at 12 weeks.

Why doesn't the belly grow during pregnancy?

When the belly begins to actively grow during pregnancy, it is noticeable to everyone. But often women complain to doctors that their belly does not grow during pregnancy. This is observed in expectant mothers who have a dense physique and curvy figure. In such cases, a small increase in abdominal volume is not noticeable. When abdominal circumference does not increase in thin people, short women, it is necessary to exclude pathology. A discrepancy between the size of the abdomen and the gestational age may indicate pregnancy complications such as:

hypotrophy - a violation of the processes of intrauterine development;
– volume discrepancy amniotic fluid normal;
incorrect, transverse position of the fetus;
– attachment occurs outside the uterus, which is why the belly does not grow.

Many expectant mothers, who have barely learned about their new position, are looking forward to the time when the belly, noticeable to others, will finally begin to appear. They regularly examine themselves in front of the mirror, compare their appearance with that of other pregnant women, and even get a little upset if other expectant mothers’ bellies grow faster than their own. Such pregnant women often think that if their waist circumference does not increase, this indicates that the pregnancy is not proceeding correctly, so they strive to find out at what month of pregnancy the belly appears.

How and why does the belly increase during pregnancy?

No matter how much the expectant mother would like to early stages to see how the belly grows, for some reasons this remains impossible, and for a long time only she herself will know about her excellent condition.

When conception occurs, the fertilized egg is implanted into the wall of the uterus. From this moment the cell begins to grow and very soon turns into an embryo. Along with the embryo, the uterus also grows. The placenta forms in it, amniotic fluid appears, and the organ itself begins to rise upward, taking up more and more space in the abdominal cavity. This whole process occurs gradually, so the belly also does not become rounded immediately.

It is quite difficult to say exactly when a belly appears in pregnant women: everyone’s body is too individual, and the period of bearing a child proceeds differently for everyone. On average, significant changes in this area become noticeable at 16 weeks of pregnancy (4 months). Some people have a visible belly during pregnancy already at the end of the 1st trimester, while others manage to hide their position until 6-7 months of pregnancy. The number of weeks the belly appears is influenced by several factors, which we will talk about a little later.

By the way, the circumference of a pregnant woman’s tummy is the most important indicator normal course pregnancy, which is why in the 2nd trimester the gynecologist will begin to measure the volume of the abdomen using a regular centimeter tape. Of course, a belly that barely appears won’t tell him anything, so the doctor will take measurements from 19-20 weeks.

The specialist compares the received readings with generally accepted standards, and if a significant difference is suddenly discovered, this will become a reason for further examination.

Often women are interested in when the belly appears during pregnancy in order to determine whether she will soon have a wardrobe update. It must be said that often, even in the absence of a tummy, already in the first trimester, the expectant mother’s usual outfits become tight, and sometimes it is completely impossible to wear tight trousers. This is explained by the fact that already in the early stages of bearing a child, restructuring begins in the body, including weight gain and a slight transformation of the figure.

In addition, the intestines begin to work differently, and the woman notices that the excessive pressure of clothing becomes unpleasant and uncomfortable for her. By the way, at this time, many pregnant women may feel that they already have a visible belly, especially noticeable in the evening. But doctors explain this simply - bloating and unstable functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. You can verify this by looking in the mirror early in the morning: the evening volume in the waist area will disappear.

What affects the growth of the abdomen during pregnancy?

As already mentioned, there are several factors that influence how the belly grows during pregnancy and at what stage it becomes noticeable. Among them:

Number of pregnancies. During the first pregnancy, the belly grows slowly and is usually noticeable to others towards the middle of the second trimester. If a woman is already pregnant for the second time, the volume of the tummy increases quite quickly, and the “interesting position” ceases to be a secret by 12-14 weeks. In addition, the belly during the second pregnancy is usually larger than during the first.
Number of fruits. The belly of expectant mothers expecting twins grows much faster and appears much earlier than those of those who are carrying one baby.
Mother's build. In thin people, roundness in the waist area becomes noticeable at an earlier stage, but overweight people can successfully hide pregnancy up to 7 months. In addition, the appearance of a belly largely depends on the type of pelvis the pregnant woman has: if it is narrow, then the roundness will appear early.
Heredity. If the mother and grandmother of the expectant mother had a large belly already at the beginning of the 2nd trimester, then it is possible that the pregnant woman herself will notice changes at the same time.
Position of the fetus and placenta. The placenta can be attached to the uterus in different ways: along the front or back wall, and in rare cases, block the uterine os. If the placenta is located on the back wall, then the fetus will be located closer to the mother's spine, which means that a visible belly may appear later than in other pregnant women.
Condition of the abdominal muscles. If before pregnancy a woman regularly exercised and has strong abdominal muscles, then with a high degree of probability her waist size will not change significantly until 5-6 months. Weak or stretched abdominal muscles (this happens, for example, if a woman is already pregnant for the second time) cannot resist the load long enough, so roundness appears earlier.

As you can see, quite a lot of factors influence the growth of the expectant mother’s tummy, and it is simply impossible to foresee them all. This is why it is so difficult to give an exact answer at what month of pregnancy a growing belly becomes visible.

Why doesn't my belly grow?

Pregnant women tend to worry about even the most insignificant things, and if they notice that their tummy does not want to grow, then excitement threatens to turn into panic.

The factors that influence the increase in the abdominal area in pregnant women have already been mentioned earlier, but besides this, there are situations in which it is really worth worrying about why such important natural changes are not happening.

If the belly does not grow for a long time during pregnancy or grows too slowly, and its volume does not correspond to the period, this may indicate some pathologies, including:

oligohydramnios;
deficiency of fetal body weight;
breech presentation of the fetus.

Do not be alarmed: a small abdominal circumference is not yet a reliable sign of abnormalities, and the doctor will definitely send you to additional examination. In addition, you need to remember that all these conditions can be corrected if you notice them in time and take all the necessary measures. That is why the gynecologist regularly measures the circumference of the pregnant woman’s abdomen and monitors changes. Oligohydramnios and fetal hypotrophy can be successfully treated in a hospital setting.

Concerning breech presentation fetus, you need to remember: throughout pregnancy, the baby will change its position in the mother’s womb more than once, and it is likely that by the time of birth it will turn its head towards the cervix. Nevertheless, with a breech presentation of the fetus, the pregnant woman is carefully monitored.

Before the baby is fixed in the pelvis, there is still an opportunity to influence its position in the womb.

There are special exercises for this, thanks to which the baby can turn his head towards the “exit”. If this cannot be achieved, the pregnant woman will be scheduled for a planned caesarean section.

Thus, there is no need to worry about the fact that your tummy has not yet started to grow. Perhaps this is due to heredity or the characteristics of your figure, and you just need to wait a little longer. To be completely sure that nothing threatens you and your baby, regularly visit your gynecologist and tell him about all your doubts.

One of the undeniable and most significant signs of pregnancy is an enlarged belly. But why does it start to grow at all? It seems that the answer lies on the surface: because a child grows in it. And this should happen to every normal expectant mother; pregnancy still lasts for 9 months. But in reality, everything is a little more complicated. And, as it turns out, how your belly grows can tell specialists a lot...

During pregnancy, the belly increases due to 3 factors: the growth of the baby itself, the growth of the uterus and the increase in amniotic fluid.

At what month does the belly begin to grow? It should be noted that the answer is not as simple as it might seem. After all, the question is very ambiguous and delicate. The growth of the tummy is influenced by the factors described above.

Note! There is an average indicator at what time the belly begins to grow in most pregnant women. Gynecologists call the figure 16 weeks, that is, from about four months.

But, probably, many of you know cases when a woman’s belly is so invisible that she manages to hide her interesting position for up to 6-7 months. Believe me, there are people who manage to hide their pregnancy until the ninth month.

But there are also opposite stories, when pregnant women’s bellies appeared literally in the second month. In general, one thing is clear from all this: the belly can begin to grow in absolutely any month and in any trimester. It may not begin to manifest itself too clearly at all - in cases of the so-called “hidden pregnancy”.

Factors

In addition to those listed, we can also identify the following factors that influence the growth of a pregnant woman’s tummy:

Women who become pregnant for the first time most often begin to notice an enlarged abdomen quite late. And his growth is slow. This can be explained by the fact that the abdominal muscles of such women are still quite strong and they simply simply resist stretching. But those lucky women who have already become mothers several times say that with the advent of each new pregnancy, the belly began to appear earlier and earlier. This is due, again, to the fact that the muscles have become more elastic.
Heredity. She also contributes to the growth of the pregnant belly. Ask your mother and grandmother how soon their belly began to appear. You can use their answers as a guide; most likely, yours will grow in the same way.
The anatomical features of each woman have a very large influence. If you're small and skinny, you can expect to see a baby bump a little earlier than everyone else. Not only will it begin to grow faster, but it will also appear very large.
If nature has rewarded you with curvaceous figures, tall and wide hips, you can expect that not only those around you, but also you yourself will begin to notice the growth of your tummy only closer to the middle of pregnancy.
The size of the fetus naturally has a big impact on how quickly your belly appears. The faster your baby develops, the sooner you will notice changes in your figure. In addition, it is very important how exactly the child lies in the womb of a woman. If, for example, it is located close to the spine, do not expect to see an increase in the tummy soon - it will remain small for a long time. But if you have an adherence to the anterior wall of the uterus, the belly will begin to appear in the early stages of pregnancy.

Almost all expectant mothers are interested in how long the belly grows, especially if this is their first pregnancy. After all, it is quite difficult, again for those who became pregnant for the first time, to realize that something has arisen and is growing inside you. new life and that this is not a dream. It also becomes scary because it is impossible to understand whether everything is fine with the baby and whether he is developing normally. There is another rather banal reason for such interest: the desire to find out how soon you will have to update your wardrobe.

It is believed that the timing of abdominal growth during pregnancy is very individual. If you visited forums for expectant mothers, you probably read stories about how one woman’s belly appeared already at 5 weeks, while another’s was barely visible at 30. This, of course, is true. But just pay attention to the key word in this sentence – “belly”. After all, it can grow even in a non-pregnant woman, from overeating, for example. Or due to excessive gas formation, which is also often found in expectant mothers.

Therefore, those who claim that the belly can begin to grow already in the first trimester are a little mistaken. Specifically, they simply confuse the stomach with the uterus. Her rapid growth begins around the 16th week. And after 20 weeks, others will be able to understand that the woman they see is in an interesting position.

What do the doctors say?

What do doctors say about this? At approximately 7-8 weeks of pregnancy, a woman registers with the antenatal clinic. And it is from this moment that doctors begin to monitor the growth and development of the fetus. For example, at week 10 there is still no need to talk about any more or less noticeable belly. In addition, the doctor measures the abdominal circumference of the pregnant woman every time during examinations. He regularly enters this data into the pregnant woman’s individual card. As you understand, this value (abdominal circumference) is very variable. It depends on how the baby is positioned in the uterus, on the amount of amniotic fluid, and on the volume of the fat layer.

Question: “At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?” concerns many expectant mothers- after all, everyone wants to know in advance when she will need to buy new clothes. And any woman wants to show off her new position to others! It would seem that this is simpler - our mothers and grandmothers always told us that the belly becomes noticeable only in the fifth month of pregnancy - and before that there was no need to worry. But not everything is as simple as it seems. So at what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?

Abdominal growth during pregnancy from the point of view of doctors

At about 7-8 weeks of pregnancy, you register with the antenatal clinic - and it is from this time that your tummy and the baby inside it become the main objects of observation. Your gynecologist monitors the growth of the fetus, at each appointment he measures the circumference of your abdomen - and, of course, almost from the very beginning of pregnancy this figure will gradually increase. After all, you are getting better, and your volumes are gradually increasing, millimeter by millimeter.

But you, of course, are interested in the question: “At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?” in the sense of its obvious visibility to others. Gynecologists have an average indicator for when the belly becomes noticeable - this is 16 weeks of pregnancy (about 4 months). But this indicator, of course, is very variable - after all, the circumference of the abdomen can change from time to time, and this depends on many factors: on the distribution of amniotic fluid, on the position of the baby in the uterus, on how much you ate, on the thickness of your fat layer or whether you have bloating due to digestive problems.

Expectant mothers often confuse the concepts of “abdominal growth” and “uterine growth.” Belly growth may not be solely related to pregnancy. Depending on yours, it may increase simply due to excess weight or overeating. But the growth of the uterus is a separate matter. During pregnancy, active growth of the uterus begins around the 16th week, but the tummy can be noticeable only after the 20th week.

By the way, a large belly that appears early is not at all as good as it might seem to you at first glance. The fact is that a large belly is a risk factor for the occurrence, and the appearance of stretch marks is more expected precisely if your belly quickly grew during pregnancy.

In any case, as soon as you notice an increase in your abdomen, start wearing a prenatal bandage, which will protect your skin from stretch marks and help reduce the load on your spine.

Why do you need to measure your belly?

Doctors don’t just measure the size of your tummy so they can write the data down on a card and forget it. The gynecologist has special tables with which he checks and concludes whether the pregnancy is proceeding normally. The size of the abdomen can “tell” the doctor about several alarm bells. Namely:

About low or high water pregnancy

Are there pathologies in fetal development?

About possible infectious diseases of women

About gestosis or placental insufficiency

About the development of multiple pregnancy

If the doctor identifies the slightest deviation, he will definitely refer you for additional studies that will either confirm or refute the doctor’s suspicions.

Factors for abdominal growth during pregnancy

We cannot say at what stage of pregnancy your belly will begin to actively grow. And no one will say - after all, the growth of the abdomen during pregnancy is an individual phenomenon. However, there are several factors that determine the answer to the question: “At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?” right at your place. What are these factors?

1. What kind of pregnancy are you carrying?

If you are pregnant, your tummy will appear a little later. This happens because your abdominal muscles have not yet been stretched, and they actively resist stretching. But if you are becoming a mother not for the first time, your tummy may please you with its appearance much earlier - and this does not mean that you may have uterine tone. It’s just that the muscles of your tummy are more flexible and prepared for the baby’s growth.

2. Your anatomical features.

As a rule, in women with a narrow pelvis, the tummy appears earlier. This is due to the fact that the baby cannot “hide” between the pelvic bones, so he has to grow only forward - and the uterus almost immediately begins to rise above the level of the pubic bone. If you have a wide enough pelvis, the uterus will first grow to the sides, and only then forward. In this case, the belly will become noticeable later.

3. Features of the location of the child and the amount of amniotic fluid.

If the baby is located closer to the back wall of the uterus (closer to the spine), your belly will begin to grow more later pregnancy. If there is a lot of amniotic fluid in your uterus, this may be the reason that, due to the larger size of your uterus, your tummy will grow faster.

4. Your heredity.

Oddly enough, the rate at which the belly grows during pregnancy can be determined by heredity. Therefore, in order to answer the question: “At what stage of pregnancy will the belly begin to grow?” ask the same thing from the women in your family. There is a chance that it will be exactly the same for you.

5. General weight gain during pregnancy.

If during pregnancy, it is logical that the fat layer on your stomach will also increase. The same applies to the situation when you are of a heavy build or have not very elastic abdominal muscles - in this case, your pregnancy will be noticeable earlier.

6. Your baby's size.

If your baby is developing very actively, your tummy may also be noticeable much earlier. But, contrary to popular belief, the size of the abdomen at the end of pregnancy practically does not depend on the size and weight of the child. There is a great influence of other factors: your build, the location of the baby, the order of pregnancy, etc.

So that you do not worry about the question: “At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow?”, regularly visit your doctor, follow all his recommendations and, of course, take into account all the factors of belly growth during pregnancy listed in our article. Have an easy and carefree pregnancy!

Thoughts about pregnancy often lead to the appearance in the subconscious of a picture depicting an expectant mother with a large belly, where the baby is comfortably located. Having decided to give birth to a second child, every woman is puzzled by how much earlier than the first time she will begin to experience corresponding changes in appearance, and when her belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

What explains a woman’s interest in the volume of her abdomen?

Such questions arise for several reasons:

It is interesting when others find out that a woman is pregnant.
By the time the tummy appears, you can judge whether the pregnancy is proceeding normally.
Some people hope to find out the gender of their unborn child by the size and shape of their belly.
Every woman wants to at least know approximately in what month she will need special clothing.

General features of carrying a second child

All this is very important for the expectant mother. You need to figure out what exactly affects the period when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

Photos of women expecting the long-awaited birth of a baby and being at the same stage show differences in volume. During the first pregnancy, on average, the abdominal enlargement occurs between the 16th and 18th weeks. Slender lovers of tight clothes are “declassified” immediately. But those around her may not be aware of changes in the position of a curvaceous woman until she goes on maternity leave, that is, almost until the 25th week. It turns out: despite the fact that the uterus enlarges in everyone according to the same laws, outwardly this manifests itself in different ways.

Why is my belly bigger the second time?

There are several other reasons that influence an increase in the abdominal circumference and, as a result, a change in a woman’s appearance:

Anatomical specifics of a woman giving birth repeatedly

All of the above is fair and objective. Yet the scenarios for the development of the first and second pregnancies are different. The first birth brings irreversible changes to the female body. This fact allows us to identify the reasons that influence changes in the circumference of a woman’s abdomen.

If you want to know when the belly begins to grow during a second pregnancy, you should not take into account the reviews of mothers who have already given birth again. Just like when carrying your first child, the timing of the appearance of a tummy can vary significantly for each pregnant woman. However, generally, during the second pregnancy, the belly will become noticeable earlier by about 4-6 weeks, that is, those around you will be able to rejoice at the woman’s changed position a month faster.

The reason for this is that the uterus does not return to its original state after the first birth, which is quite normal. Therefore, in thin women, the tummy will begin to be visible at 12 weeks. And let friends and relatives vying with each other based on its shape about the gender of the baby who is about to be born!

Location of the uterus

In addition, it is impossible to say unambiguously when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (photos by week help to see a noticeable difference in the increase in volume).

But changes in the position of the abdomen will certainly affect the timing. The uterus will now be located much lower than in the first pregnancy. As mentioned above, during the first pregnancy, the muscles of the pelvic floor, abdominal wall and ligaments “suffered” greatly before and during the first birth, and no longer hold the stomach so vigorously. On the one hand, this makes things easier for the pregnant woman: she is less bothered by heartburn and nothing makes breathing difficult. On the other hand, the lower spine and pelvic bones suffer. A bandage can help here; you can buy it only on specialized websites or at a pharmacy. And only the one that the doctor recommends.

It’s different for everyone: reviews from pregnant women

When the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (feedback from women can be an invaluable source of information), many also note differences in the shape of the abdomen. On the forums they write that in general, for women with a narrow pelvis, the second time it sags more and looks flatter, and it drops much later. This discourages those who like to tell fortunes about the sex of the child based on the shape of the belly. None of them can imagine that in the round belly, which greatly increases the mother’s waist, it is not a girl who is comfortably developing, but, on the contrary, a male baby.

The mothers themselves claim that when they are pregnant for the second time, it is more difficult for them to hide their position, since the belly becomes noticeable earlier than the first time. This is confirmed by the women themselves. They admit that when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy, the second baby becomes the object of congratulations a whole month earlier.

Negative experience of a previous pregnancy

It happens that the previous pregnancy is interrupted, and the woman is unable to give birth to a baby. It is no coincidence that, worrying about the current baby, the mother, being in the early stages, will look forward to changes in her own appearance, and at the next appointment the doctor will be asked when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy after a miscarriage. Typically, there are no differences in the volume and timing of the appearance of the abdomen depending on the outcome of previous pregnancies.

Mandatory visits to the gynecologist

Women try to figure out when the belly begins to grow during their second pregnancy. And their desires are not always connected with the desire to find out the gender of the child or to acquire appropriate clothing in time. The doctor is very interested in this information, whose attention pregnant women should never neglect. To give birth to a healthy baby, you need to regularly attend appointments with the gynecologist leading the pregnancy, where he will feel the tummy, measure it with a tape and a special device.

And all the signs outlined above will help him not in guessing the gender of the child, but in deciding how the pregnancy is progressing, whether there are any reasons for concern and a threat to the baby. This was the case the first time and this will be the case in all subsequent pregnancies. Every mother, regardless of whether this happens for the first or second time, must go through this period under the supervision of a doctor: take tests on time, follow a diet and physical activity.

A few words in conclusion

If the changes occurring in the uterus comply with accepted standards, neither the size nor the shape of the abdomen will in any way affect the health of the mother and her baby, and certainly not in any way affect his gender.

For parents looking forward to the birth of a baby, it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s a girl or a boy. And when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy with twins, there is definitely no limit to the happiness of expectant mothers and fathers. By the way, this happens quite early, and it won’t be difficult to guess why. And yet, the main thing for parents is to help every baby be born healthy and on time.

Waiting for a baby is one of the most anxious periods for women. Any information is important, such as the degree of uterine enlargement and imaging of pregnancy. Changes depend on the characteristics of the body, the weight of the expectant mother and other things. In addition, it matters whether the woman has given birth before.

At what week does the belly begin to grow during the first pregnancy?

When waiting for the birth of a baby, a pregnant girl’s belly increases due to several factors:

amniotic fluid content;
fetal development;
growth of the uterus.

At what age does the belly begin to grow? This is a very sensitive issue. For some women, it increases already in the first months, while others manage to hide for a long period the fact that they are preparing for the birth of a child. Gynecologists believe that the belly should be visible after the 16th week of pregnancy. If an ultrasound determines twins, then roundness may begin to appear 3-4 weeks earlier.

A woman preparing to become a mother for the first time may develop a belly much later than those who are about to give birth to a second child. Size takes longer to increase due to muscles that actively resist stretching. In addition, the rate at which your belly grows may depend on other factors. Sometimes it becomes noticeable that a woman is going to become a mother, only in the later stages. Muscle stretching occurs much faster in those who have already gone through childbirth.

When does the belly start to grow in pregnant women with twins?

Another question of interest to expectant mothers concerns multiple pregnancies. Noticeable roundness, if shown in photo ultrasound examination two fertilized eggs were visible, appears earlier. In this case, the volume of amniotic fluid increases faster, so changes occur about a month earlier. Pregnant twins already in the third trimester have a belly that is visible to the naked eye.

During a multiple pregnancy, the uterus enlarges several weeks earlier than when carrying one child. The mother's overall body weight also grows faster. However, a big belly does not necessarily mean that a woman will have twins. Sometimes this is a sign of incorrect calculation of the timing of pregnancy, a large fetus, or the formation of amniotic fluid in a significant amount. The position of the unborn baby also matters.

At what stage does the belly begin to grow during the second pregnancy?

It is believed that the baby of a mother who has become pregnant for the second time is slightly larger. The size of the tummy corresponds to this. Doctors confirm this fact. During the second pregnancy, the fetus grows in height and gains up to 500 grams more weight than when expecting the first child. The skin and muscles stretch faster, the navel twists, and already at four months the roundness is clearly visible.

Each woman's uterus grows individually. If the period of waiting for the first child remains invisible to others for a long time, then the second pregnancy becomes visible earlier. The abdominal muscles are already stretched after the first birth, so the process goes faster. It is important to take into account the physiology of the expectant mother, especially the structure of the pelvic bones. An expectant mother with a narrow pelvis “rounds up” faster during pregnancy than women with a wide skeleton.

At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow? Visual changes may not occur until the tenth week. After this, a slight roundness appears, growing every day. The most active period of fetal development begins in the thirteenth week. After the first pregnancy, the wall of the abdominal muscle is no longer as elastic as before, so it may seem that the “interesting position” appears visually faster.

For every woman, becoming a mother means making huge changes in her life. Therefore, they want to know everything about this, especially how the fetus should develop correctly, in what month does the belly appear in pregnant women? These questions are asked quite often, especially by those who are preparing to become mothers for the first time.

First, let’s explain the definition of “tummy.” In the first months of pregnancy, a woman’s belly may grow, the reason for this is poor nutrition or gas formation. In these first months, the uterus is not yet enlarged.

Pregnant women come to a point when they begin to think: “at what stage does the belly begin to grow?” Let's try to answer this question. The uterus begins to grow only at 16 weeks from the moment of conception. Therefore, the belly will be noticeable to other people only in the 20th week of pregnancy. If a woman plays sports, i.e. if she has developed abs, her tummy will become visible much later.
Also, the appearance of a belly depends on what type of pelvis the pregnant woman has. If the expectant mother’s pelvis is wide enough, her tummy will become visible only by the 4-5th month of pregnancy. U overweight women It will be possible to notice the “position” even later. In women who give birth for the second time, the belly may appear earlier. The number of embryos can also affect the size of the abdomen, namely, making it larger. This is the only thing that can really affect the month at which the belly appears in pregnant women. If the expectant mother has triplets or twins, then the belly may be noticeable already in the first 3 months.

In general, the answer to the question of what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow will be as follows. If a woman has one fetus and its development is going well, then the belly should appear only at the 12th week of pregnancy. Already at week 16, your tummy will become noticeable not only to you.
And by the 27th week of pregnancy, the question is: at what stage does the belly begin to grow? - will not be relevant, since by this moment it will be impossible to hide your baby under blouses and other clothes.
At the same time, the expectant mother should be interested not only in what period the belly begins to grow, but also in how her baby should develop correctly.
At 8 - 10 weeks of pregnancy ovum reaches a diameter of 22 mm.
At the time when it is necessary to register, namely, by 12 weeks, the length of the fetus will be seven centimeters, and its weight will reach 20-25 grams. At this time, when you come for an ultrasound, you can see that the fertilized egg has almost completely filled the uterine cavity.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus will reach a length of 12 cm, while its body weight will increase to 100 grams. By this time, the question of at what time the belly begins to grow disappears on its own, since all the worries associated with it are already behind us. The tummy has noticeably grown and become rounder.

By week 20, the length of the fetus will reach 25 cm with a weight of about 300 g. At 24 weeks, your baby will have time to grow significantly. By this time, its length will be almost 30 cm, and its weight will vary from 600 to 700 grams.

By week 28, the length of the fetus is usually 35 cm with a body weight of about 1.0-1.2 kg. At the 32nd week, body weight will increase to 1.5 kg with a fetal length of 40 cm.
At week 36, the baby is practically formed, and its indicators by this time will be as follows: weight - 2.5 kg, and length - about 48 cm.

However, it is impossible to say that these indicators are the same for everyone. They are quite individual, since the baby in the womb of each mother is formed in its own way. Therefore, the above data is very average, and your baby may reach large sizes or be slightly smaller due to individual characteristics.
The body weight of the fetus by the date of birth is usually 2.6-5.0 kg, and its length can reach 54 cm.

Thus, for the expectant mother it should be important: to carry the child for the entire required period and provide him with everything necessary for full growth and nutrition, but the tummy and its size are not the most important thing.